Container Protector

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment of a container protector the container protector comprises two opposing side skirts, two opposing end skirts, and a interior lip connected to both side skirts and end skirts. The container protector may also include one or more handle extension to facilitate use with a container having one or more handles. The container protector is designed to sealing fit around the top periphery of a container with the interior lip extending upward to prevent material within the container from flowing outward therefrom during transitions. Such transitions may be caused by heating, transportation, or other disturbances. The precise dimensions of the container protector will vary from one embodiment to the next, and the container protector may take any shape depending on the container for which it is designed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority from provisional U.S. Pat. App.Nos. 61/347,254 filed on May 21, 2010 and 61/373,713 filed on Aug. 13,2010, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in theirentireties.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers and lids therefore, and morespecifically, to the prevention of spills during cooking or othertransitions.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosedand described in the patent application.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readilyunderstood, a more particular description of the invention brieflydescribed above will be rendered by reference to specific embodimentsillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered limited of its scope, the invention will be describedand explained with additional specificity and detail through the use ofthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a first embodiment of thecontainer protector engaged with a container.

FIG. 1A provides a cross-sectional view of the first and secondembodiment of the container protector engaged with a container adjacenta container end wall.

FIG. 1B provides a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of thecontainer protector having a ridge formed therein.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of a second embodiment of thecontainer protector engaged with a container.

FIG. 3 provides a perspective view of a third embodiment of thecontainer protector engaged with a container.

FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of another embodiment of thecontainer protector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Listing of Elements

ELEMENT DESCRIPTION ELEMENT # Container protector 10 Container 20Container side wall 22 Container end wall 24 Container handle 24aInterior lip 30 Bottom surface 30 b Side skirt 32 End skirt 34 Handleextension 34a Ridge 36 Container protector with bottom 40

Before the various embodiments of the present invention are explained indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangements ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thedrawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of beingpracticed or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that phraseology and terminology used herein with referenceto device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like“front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like) are onlyused to simplify description of the present invention, and do not aloneindicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have aparticular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”,and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes ofdescription and are not intended to indicate or imply relativeimportance or significance. As used herein, the term “rectangle” ismeant to include any quadrilateral having four right angles.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1provide a perspective view of a first embodiment of the containerprotector 10 engaged with a container 20. The embodiment of thecontainer protector 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to engage acontainer 20 that is rectangular in shape. Such containers 20 typicallyinclude two opposing container side walls 22 connected to two opposingcontainer end walls 24 in one integral structure. Container handles 24 amay be fashioned in the container end walls 24 to facilitaterepositioning of the container 20 during use or otherwise moving thecontainer 20.

The first embodiment of the container protector 10 includes two opposingside skirts 32 configured to seal against the container side walls 22.Two opposing end skirts 34 are configured to seal against the containerend walls 34. The side skirts 32 are affixed to the end skirts 34 sothat the shape of the container protector 10 is substantially the sameas the shape of the container 20. Handle extensions 34 a may be includedin the end skirts 34 to seal against the container handle 24 a incontainers 20 that are configured with container handles 24 a. However,container protectors 10 configured for use with containers 20 not havingcontainer handles 24 a may be constructed without handle extensions 34a.

It is contemplated that the container protector 10 will be constructedof a pliable and/or semi-pliable material and configured so that thecontainer protector 10 stretches by a certain amount when engaged withthe container 20, thereby creating a hermetic seal between the container20 and the container protector 10. That is, the elastic or semi-elasticnature of the container protector 10 allows it to expand so that it issecured to the container 20. Accordingly, in many applications theperiphery of the container protector 10 will be less than the peripheryof the container 20 for which it is designed. During use, attachment ofthe container protector 10 to the container 20 will require the user tostretch the container protector 10 over the container 20, therebyensuring the container protector 10 is adequately secured to thecontainer 20 and that an adequate seal is created between the containerprotector 10 and container 20.

An interior lip 30 may be connected to both the opposing side skirts 32and the opposing end skirts 34. The interior lip 30 is configured toextend inward from the periphery of the container 20, which is bestshown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, which provide different cross-sectional viewsof the container protector 10 engaged with a container 20.

A cross-sectional view of a portion of the container protector 10 andcontainer 20 adjacent a container handle 24 a and a handle extension 34a is shown in FIG. 1A. A cross-sectional view of a portion of thecontainer protector 10 and container 20 along a container side wall 22and side skirt 32 is shown in FIG. 1B. As shown in these variousfigures, the interior lip 30 extends upward beyond the periphery of thecontainer 20 and inward therefrom. This extension of the interior lip 30combined with the sealing engagement between the end skirts 34 andcontainer end walls 24, the handle extensions 34 a and container handles24 a, and the side skirts 32 and container side walls 22 serves tofunctionally increase the volume of the container 20. Accordingly, ifmaterial is positioned in the container 20 and the container 20 issubsequently heated, which may expand the material in the container 20,the container protector 10 may prevent the material from flowing out ofthe container 20. One example of such a situation is during cooking,especially baking scenarios. It is contemplated that the firstembodiment of the container protector 10 will be sized to seal anine-inch-by-thirteen-inch, seven-inch-by-eleven-inch, or otherrectangular-shaped container 20. The container 20 may or may not includecontainer handles 24 a, and the container protector 10 may be formedaccordingly (i.e., with or without handle extensions 34 a).

A second embodiment of the container protector 10 is shown in FIG. 2,wherein the container protector 10 is configured to seal against asquare-shaped container 20. The container protector 10 in the secondembodiment functions identically to that of the first embodiment.However, in the second embodiment of the container protector 10 thecontainer protector 10 is sized to seal an eight-inch-by-eight-inch,nine-inch-by-nine-inch, or other square-shaped container 20. As with thefirst embodiment, in the second embodiment the container 20 may or maynot include container handles 24 a, and the container protector 10 maybe formed accordingly (i.e., with or without handle extensions 34 a).

A third embodiment of the container protector 10 is shown in FIG. 3,wherein the container protector 10 is configured to seal against acircular-shaped container 20. The container protector 10 in the thirdembodiment functions identically to that of the first and secondembodiments. However, in the third embodiment of the container protector10 the container protector 10 is sized to seal circular-shaped container20. As with the first and second embodiments, in the third embodimentthe container 20 may or may not include container handles 24 a, and thecontainer protector 10 may be formed accordingly (i.e., with or withouthandle extensions 34 a).

A container protector with bottom 40 is shown in FIG. 4. The containerprotector with bottom 40 functions identically to the other embodimentsof the container protector 10 disclosed herein. However, the containerprotector with bottom 40 includes a bottom portion 38 connecting theside skirts 32 and end skirts 34 so that the container protector withbottom 40 forms a type of vessel with substantially the same shape asthe container 20 for which the container protector 10 is designed. Thebottom portion 38 may be configured to either allow for or inhibitaccumulation of baked-on materials between the container protector withbottom 40 and the container 20, thereby enhancing removal of foodparticles after use.

As is apparent in light of the present disclosure, when the containerprotector 10 is fully engaged with a container 20 for which thecontainer protector 10 was designed, a seal is formed along the entireperiphery of the container 20. This seal allows the interior lip 30 ofthe container protector 10 to act as an extension of the container 10,thereby effectively increasing the volume of the container 20.Accordingly, if the material positioned within the container 10 expandsduring cooking, baking, or during any other transitory condition putupon the material and/or container 20, the container protector 10prevents the material from exiting the container 20.

The optimal dimensions of the height of the side skirt 32, and skirt 34,and interior lip 30 will depend on several factors, including but notlimited to the specific application for the container protector 10 andthe height of the container side and end walls 22, 24. However, it iscontemplated that for most applications the height of the side skirt andend skirt 34 will be between 0.25 and 2.5 inches, and the height of theinterior lip 30 will be between 0.1 and 2.5 inches. The thickness of theinterior lip 30, side skirt 32, end skirt 34, and handle extension 34 awill vary from one embodiment of the container protector 10 to the next,but for many applications a thickness between 0.1 and 0.7 inches willsuffice. The length of the side skirts 32 and end skirts will varydepending on the size and configuration of the container 20 for whichthe container protector 10 is designed.

The various elements of the container protector 10 may be integrallyformed as one unit, or the various elements may be separately formed andlater affixed to one another. The container protector 10 may be formedof any material known to those of ordinary skill in the art that issuitable for the application for which the container protector 10 isused. Such materials include but are not limited to rubber, silicon,other polymers, or combinations thereof. It is contemplated that forsome applications the container protector may be constructed of asilicone rubber material that is heat resistant up to 480 F, but thetemperature that the material of construction will withstand in no waylimits the scope of the container protector 10. The silicon rubbermaterial is typically used in the construction of other types ofbakeware due to its superior durability.

Other methods of using the container protector 10 and embodimentsthereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of thepresent disclosure. Accordingly, the methods and embodiments picturedand described herein are for illustrative purposes only.

It should be noted that the container protector 10 is not limited to thespecific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended toapply to all similar apparatuses and methods for preventing a materialpositioned in a container from overflowing the container. Modificationsand alterations from the described embodiments will occur to thoseskilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of thecontainer protector 10.

1. A container protector comprising: a. two opposing side skirts; b. twoopposing end skirts, wherein said opposing end skirts are positionedbetween and affixed to said opposing side skirts such that said opposingend skirts and said opposing side skirts substantially form a rectangle;c. two handle extensions, wherein each said handle extension ispositioned in either said end skirt; and d. an interior lip, whereinsaid interior lip is positioned around the interior periphery of saidrectangle formed by said opposing end skirts and said opposing sideskirts.
 2. The container protector according to claim 1 wherein saidcontainer protector is further defined as being configured to have abottom portion affixed between said opposing side skirts and saidopposing end skirts.
 3. The container protector according to claim 1wherein said container protector is further defined as being configuredto be securedly engaged with the periphery of a rectangular-shapedcontainer having a side wall length of thirteen inches and an end walllength of nine inches.
 4. The container protector according to claim 1wherein said container protector is further defined as being configuredto be securedly engaged with the periphery of a rectangular-shapedcontainer having a side wall length of eleven inches and an end walllength of seven inches.
 5. The container protector according to claim 1wherein said container protector is further defined as having a sideskirt that is between 0.25 and 2.5 inches in height.
 6. The containerprotector according to claim 1 wherein said container protector isfurther defined as being configured to be securedly engaged with theperiphery of a square-shaped container having a side wall length of nineinches and an end wall length of nine inches.
 7. The container protectoraccording to claim 1 wherein said container protector is further definedas being configured to be securedly engaged with the periphery of asquare-shaped container having a side wall length of eight inches and anend wall length of eight inches.
 8. The container protector according toclaim 1 wherein said container protector is further defined as beingconstructed of a rubber silicone material.
 9. The container protectoraccording to claim 1 wherein said two opposing side skirts furthercomprise a ridge extending along the length thereof.
 10. A containerprotector comprising: a. a side skirt, wherein said side skirt issubstantially circular in shape; and b. an interior lip, wherein saidinterior lip is positioned around the interior periphery of said sideskirt.
 11. The container protector according to claim 10 wherein saidcontainer protector is further defined as being configured to have abottom portion affixed to an edge of said side skirt to form a vessel.12. The container protector according to claim 10 wherein said containerprotector is further defined as being configured to be securedly engagedwith the periphery of a circular container having a diameter of eightinches.
 13. The container protector according to claim 10 wherein saidcontainer protector is further defined as being constructed of a rubbersilicone material.
 14. The container protector according to claim 10wherein said side skirt further comprises a ridge formed therein.
 15. Amethod for preventing a material within a container from exiting saidcontainer, said method comprising the steps of: a. positioning acontainer protector on said container; and, b. adjusting said containerprotector such that said container protector creates a hermetic sealaround the peripheral opening of said container, wherein said containerprotector includes an interior lip extending upward from said peripheralopening of said container